ingrate

Definitions

in- (not) + grat (thankful) = 'an unthankful one.' Latin ingrātus meant 'not pleasing, ungrateful.' Note: this in- is the NEGATIVE one (as in incomplete) — unlike the in- of ingratiate, which means 'into.'

Common Collocations

• 1.ungrateful ingrate不知感恩的忘恩负义者
• 2.a selfish ingrate自私的忘恩之徒
• 3.such an ingrate这么个忘恩负义的人

Example Sentences

• 1.

  After all we did for him, the ingrate never even said thank you.

• 2.

  She called her former friend a selfish ingrate.

Easily Confused

ingrate vs ingratiate — They look like a pair but split on the prefix. ingrate uses negative in- ('not thankful'). ingratiate uses in- = 'into' (to flatter into favor). An ingrate gives no thanks; someone who ingratiates seeks favor.